NWS confirms tornado hit Bridgeport

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - The National Weather Service confirms a tornado ripped through Bridgeport on Thursday.

Thousands of homes and businesses in Bridgeport and Stratford and surrounding communities remain without power Friday after a violent storm damaged homes and buildings.

During a Friday morning walk through, Mayor Bill Finch and Sen. Chris Dodd said the hardest hit areas of Bridgeport were the east end and the downtown area.

States of emergency were declared in Bridgeport and part of Stratford because of the damage, and a 5:30 p.m. curfew was in effect until further notice. The states of emergency and the curfew were lifted Friday. However, the emergency call center in Bridgeport got more that 2,500 calls and the governor brought in homeland security. Several other towns also responded to Bridgeport to provide mutual aid.

At the height of the storm, United Illuminating reported about 24,000 outages and CL&P reported 4,800. Friday afternoon, UI reported just over 14,500 and CL&P reported 120. In total, 40 UI crews were out on the streets trying to restore power to area customers.

The storm damaged dozens of buildings in Bridgeport and injured more than two dozen people. The Exit 28 off ramp from I-95 Northbound will remain closed due to storm related damage on East Main St., state police said Friday. 

Two shelters were opened for families without a place to stay. About 100 people took advantage of them and about nine stayed overnight. Mayor Finch tells News 8 about 50 families are homeless following the storm. "We'll be working 'round the clock' to provide emergency housing for the many people who have been displaced from their homes or apartments, due to power outages or damage to the building," said Mayor Finch.

Beardsley and Seaside Parks will remain open, but suffered damage.

"This storm hit the most ferocious in the neighborhood that can afford it the least. This is a poor community. People have no roofs on their homes down here, it's very difficult," Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said. "I've never seen a storm do so much damage in such a short period of time."

"All of a sudden, it was really windy," said Luis Quinones of Bridgeport. Moments later "everything just collapsed. Everything just collapsed! Bricks started falling, bricks fell on our porch - disaster!"

"We've talked to a couple of people who have lost everything," said Governor Jodi Rell, who drove down to the city to see the damage first hand. Following the storm, Rell issued this statement: "The tornado touched down for just a short period of time, but it will take several weeks, perhaps months to put so many lives and livelihoods back together," said Governor Rell. "The state today is formally requesting that FEMA begin the damage assessment process for everyone affected by yesterday's severe weather as the first step in potential federal disaster assistance."

“My heart goes out to the victims of the Bridgeport tornado," said Rep. Jim Himes. "I plan to personally survey the damage today and will do everything I can to help. Our first responders and local leaders have served the community admirably, and I appreciate everything they have done in their immediate response to the storm and in the continuing effort to keep us safe, clean up the city, and mitigate the damage.”

The City of Bridgeport even postponed their fireworks show on the fourth of July due to the severe storm.

The Lordship section of Stratford was also hit very hard by the storm. Like Bridgeport, there are branches down, trees uprooted and power lines on the ground.

Immediately after the storm Connecticut state troopers were called in to help Bridgeport police deal with traffic control and to help search for anyone trapped. State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Friday State Police Canine Teams have now completed their searches in the debris fields.

Mayor Finch said some people won't be allowed back into some of the buildings for at least a year. Other buildings will be condemned.

Even though Bridgeport and Stratford were the hardest hit cities, Fairfield got smacked with a lot of damage too. The Fairfield Fire Department reports that they responded to 40 emergencies throughout the town in the aftermath. Fairfield said a lot of their units also went to Bridgeport to help them out.

"We were ready to assist Bridgeport when they called for mutual aid in responding to the devastation that struck our neighboring community," said Asst. Chief Chris Tracy.

Bridgeport residents impacted by the storm and who need help are urged to call Bridgeport's Emergency Operations Center at 203-579-3820.

If anyone is in need of a shelter in storm struck territory, the city urges them to call 203-579-3820.